Sex differences in self-estimation of multiple intelligences among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents

A total of 378 Hong Kong adolescents estimated their own and their parents' IQ score on each of Gardner's 10 multiple intelligences: verbal (linguistic), logical (mathematical), spatial, musical, body-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, existential, spiritual and naturalistic. They answered three simple questions concerning intelligence and intelligence tests. There were sex differences in eight of the 10 self-estimates except for verbal and interpersonal. Male participants gave higher scores than female participants. Factor analyses of the 10 dimensions yielded a two-interpretable-factor solution: personal-social-spiritual intelligence and academic-arts-kinesthetic intelligence. There were consistent sex differences in the estimates of the academic-arts-kinesthetic intelligence factor for oneself, but not for parents, while there were sex differences in the estimates of the personal-social-spiritual intelligence factor for oneself and for mother, but not for father. The two factor scores were predicted by both gender and belief about intelligence.